It's no secret that Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is not ignoring calls about wide receiver A.J. Brown in a trade, but it certainly won't be easy.
Sports Illustrated NFL reporter Albert Breer shared a new update on Brown as the Eagles are reportedly looking for a first-round pick and a pick in the top 100 for Brown, which has been too high for many teams to pull the trigger on a deal. Breer started the Brown report with an interesting note about what the star receiver's camp has been doing.
"The potential for an A.J. Brown trade is there. Eagles GM Howie Roseman knows this situation is delicate—and actively shopping Brown could make things messier than Philly needs them to be. But Brown’s camp has done recon, too, on potential landing spots and which have a genuine interest. So, while Roseman quietly has had talks, Brown’s side has gauged whether there’s greener grass elsewhere."
A.J. Brown's camp has been checking for alternative options.
Brown has been unhappy with his situation in Philadelphia over the last two years, as he has received fewer targets and been less involved in the offense despite still gaining over 1,000 yards in each of those seasons and winning a Super Bowl. Last year was a new low for him as he had just 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns, the lowest of his four-year run with the Eagles. He also, for the first time, did not lead the team in receiving and was not selected to the Pro Bowl or All-Pro.
Last season was filled with so much drama, from his cryptic tweets to the commentary on the Eagles during a stream. It was capped off by a sideline altercation with Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and storming out of the locker room after the playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers without talking to the press. After the season, a report came out that Brown had asked ot be traded multiple times throughout the year.
While Brown has been good and has been talking highly of the Eagles over the last month, there is still a growing feeling that he wants to move out of Philly. Roseman is playing this situation smartly by making sure the Eagles get a great deal if they want to move Brown. Remember, the Eagles lose $20 million against the cap if they trade Brown before the June 1 date, so it doesn't make sense for them to trade for just a second-round pick.
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Teams like the New England Patriots are interested, but they don't want to pay the price tag Roseman has told them. It remains to be seen whether a deal will actually get done, so until then, it is all just speculation.